I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 040

EP.40 Prelude to War B (1)

In the late afternoon as the sun was setting,

Kang Seo-jun sat on a bench in the park, staring at his smartwatch.

On the smartwatch, Seo Eun-ha’s movement route and location were being displayed.

It was the GPS sharing system embedded in Eun-ha’s car.

[Seo-jun. It’s about 5 minutes until I reach the abandoned factory as you mentioned.]

“Yes. I’ve confirmed. Please enter the abandoned factory. I’ll also prepare and contact you again in 5 minutes.”

[Understood. I’ll wait.]

– Click. –

Seo-jun pressed the end call button and stretched his stiff body.

“…I’ve been sitting for a while, and fatigue is starting to build up.”

Well, it was to be expected.

With this broken body, he had already spent two sleepless nights, and today, he had even gone through grueling training.

No matter how first-rate his willpower was, pushing too hard was still pushing too hard.

His physical strength had reached its limit early on, and his mental strength was beginning to show signs of wearing down.

– Rumble. –

Seo-jun shook his head vigorously.

‘No. Stay focused. There’s a lot to do.’

– Tap! Tap! Tap! –

Seo-jun slapped his cheeks three times and conjured a dimensional shop window in the air.

If both his physical and mental strength were at their limits, then it was time to utilize the power of chemistry.

First, Seo-jun purchased two ‘Revitalizing Tonics’.

– Pop! Thud! –

Then, he injected them simultaneously into his arms.

– Shooooo! –

His mind, which seemed clouded with noise, cleared up in an instant.

Indeed, the power of chemistry was magnificent.

– Stab! –

“Ugh…!”

However, his kidneys screamed for mercy from the excessive use of drugs.

With the moniker ‘Silent Kidney’ crying out in agony like this, something was seriously wrong.

“Focus!”

However, Kang Seo-jun endured all that pain with a single burst of energy and quickly purchased ‘Revitalizing Painkillers’ with trembling fingers, clutching his stinging side.

– Tap tap tap! Swish! Swish! Gulp! –

In the blink of an eye, Kang Seo-jun emptied a painkiller bottle as if devouring a snack.

– Gurgle gurgle! Gulp! –

– Retch! Cough! –

There were ominous sounds and vibrations coming from Seo-jun’s kidneys and liver area.

But there was no pain.

Indeed, the ‘Revitalizing Painkillers.’

“Doping ends here with this.”

He needed to refrain from overclocking for a while.

“Now. What’s next…?”

Seo-jun’s fingers moved diligently again.

There were still many things to buy.

————–

《Item》

▶Dimension Shop Teleport Scroll

◆Grade

[High]

◆Description

A disposable scroll imbued with teleportation magic. Consumes dimensional currency proportional to the distance traveled.

Tear it after engraving the dimensional coordinates.

This item can only be purchased at a dimensional shop.

This item can only be used once a day, and its usage is reset at midnight.

————–

Next, he purchased a means of transportation that would instantly send him to Seo Eun-ha’s side.

When traveling long distances, the cost was astronomically high, making it impractical, but for short distances, it was a very cost-effective item.

Seo-jun scribbled his finger on the teleport scroll.

The coordinates of the abandoned factory were inscribed in shining letters on the scroll.

Originally, calculating dimensional coordinates required expensive artifacts or complex magic rituals, but for a veteran like Kang Seo-jun, it was an unnecessary process.

Most of the dimensional coordinates were already memorized in his head.

“Alright. Only one more thing left.”

Having arranged the means of transportation, Kang Seo-jun now fiddled with his finger to purchase the last item.

This was the most crucial item in this plan.

————–

《Item》

▶Dimension Shop Imitation Scroll

◆Grade

[High]

◆Description

A disposable scroll imbued with imitation magic. Consumes dimensional currency proportional to the transformation time.

Requires offerings related to the target when setting the mimicry subject.

Tear it after setting the mimicry subject.

This item can only be purchased at a dimensional shop.

————–

A magic scroll that can mimic the appearance of desired targets like a doppelganger.

To set the subject for borrowing appearance, Kang Seo-jun conjured a special window next to the shop window.

————–

《Skill》

▶Parasitic Growth

◆Grade

[Epic]

◆Description

Absorbs 20% of the host’s experience points to use as nutrients for the parasite’s growth.

Current Host: Park Shin-hoo

※Special Effect 1. When a point is gained in ‘Parasitic Growth,’ one desired trait can be exchanged with the host for each point of growth.

[Remaining Trait Exchange Points: 3]

————–

This skill could be used to set the target for imitation.

There were offerings needed when setting the mimicry subject within.

As Kang Seo-jun touched the trait exchange point once, a small light appeared at his fingertip.

Kang Seo-jun transferred that light directly onto the imitation scroll.

[One point of trait exchange from the skill 《Parasitic Growth》 has been offered as an offering.]

[The mimicry subject of the imitation scroll has been set to the host 《Park Shin-hoo》.]

“Good. Preparation is complete.”

With preparation done, it was time to move.

Kang Seo-jun folded the imitation scroll and put it in his pocket, scanning his surroundings.

In the dark corners of the unusually dim park, there was indeed no one around.

“I guess I can use it right away.”

Without hesitation, Kang Seo-jun tore the teleport scroll.

– Whoosh! –

With a flash of light, Kang Seo-jun disappeared.

Stellaport, an artificial island city in the East Sea.

Located on the outskirts, nestled by a dilapidated shoreline long abandoned by human touch, stood the abandoned factory. The atmosphere there bore a striking resemblance to Chernobyl.

Seo Eun-ha’s sedan slid into the vast expanse of the abandoned factory.

– Squelch. Squelch. –

Weeds, long and sparsely scattered, protruded from the floor, brushing against the chassis with a sound.

“Hmm.”

It seemed increasingly difficult to drive any further.

– Rumble… –

Eun-ha turned off the engine and glanced at her smartwatch.

– Ding ding! Ding ding! –

Coincidentally, just like a ghostly timing, she received a call from Kang Seo-jun.

“Yes. I’ve received the call. This is Seo Eun-ha.”

[Yes. Eun-ha, I’ve confirmed your arrival.]

Eun-ha blinked.

“Were you watching? Where are you now?”

[You need to come further into the factory.]

“Yes. I’ll head there right away.”

– Clunk! Thud! –

Eun-ha immediately got out of the car and walked deeper into the abandoned factory.

As you come in, you’ll notice a conspicuously red container. Head over there. I’ll be waiting.

– Thud… –

Should we meet and talk after this?

“…? A conspicuous red container?”

Eun-ha searched every nook and cranny of the abandoned factory, venturing deeper inside.

“There it is.”

Among the neatly stacked and discarded containers, there was one conspicuously bright red container.

Eun-ha walked towards the red container.

“Hmm.”

The container was securely locked with a padlock.

“He told me to come inside.”

– Clang! Clang! –

With brute force, Eun-ha broke the lock and forced open the locked door.

– Creak. –

“Gasp!”

Seo Eun-ha, who had absentmindedly opened the container door, gasped and took a half-step back as she swallowed her breath. It was because Kang Seo-jun’s face was right in front of her as soon as she opened the door.

“I’m relieved that you’ve come safely.”

“H-how did you get in here?”

The container was clearly locked, and there was no visible entrance?

“I’ll explain that later. For now, come inside. There’s no time.”

Motioning inside the container, Kang Seo-jun walked awkwardly.

“Oh, right. I understand.”

There were still demons outside, pursuing Seo Eun-ha. Right now, discussing the immediate situation took precedence over anything else.

After Seo Eun-ha entered the container, she firmly closed the door.

– Thunk! –

As the door closed, the interior of the container was enveloped in complete darkness.

Kang Seo-jun turned on the lights with his smartwatch.

“There’s no time, so I’ll explain right away.”

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Seo Eun-ha nodded resolutely.

“First, what you need to do with me is a kind of play.”

Seo Eun-ha’s eyes blinked rapidly.

“Could you please explain in more detail?”

“The reason the demons are approaching you right now is to find out who provided information about Director Kim Hak-yong to you.”

“I see.”

“In other words, what they want is to find the informant who provided you with the information. I plan to become that informant they are looking for.”

“What?”

Seo Eun-ha’s eyes and mouth widened.

“S-surely you’re not suggesting that you will take on the demons following me instead!”

“Shh, lower your voice. It’ll be troublesome if it’s heard outside.”

“Ah…”

After sweeping her elegant face with her hand, Seo Eun-ha lowered her voice.

“That’s the opposite. I know Seo-jun is stronger than me, but even so, it’s too risky.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Kang Seo-jun smiled faintly and rummaged through his pocket.

“I’ll be using this.”

“…That?”

What came out of his pocket was the ‘Dimension Shop Imitation Scroll’.

“It’s a transformation scroll.”

A scroll that momentarily transforms Kang Seo-jun’s appearance into that of Park Shin-hoo, identical to Park Shin-hoo. Kang Seo-jun planned to use this scroll to pass the demons off to Park Shin-hoo.

“Ah.”

Seo Eun-ha nodded as if understanding the plan.

“Creating a virtual character to confuse the demons.”

“Hmm. While it’s true that it confuses the demons, it’s not about creating a virtual character.”

“Then?”

“Seeing it for yourself would be better than explaining it.”

– Whoosh! –

Kang Seo-jun tore the ‘Dimensional Shop Teleportation Imitation Scroll’ lengthwise.

– Whoosh! –

As the scroll disappeared with a blue flame, Kang Seo-jun’s skin began to bubble and boil.

“Uh, gasp!”

Seeing this, Seo Eun-ha covered her mouth with both hands.

– Thunk! Thud! Crackle! –

What if a person’s body were thrown into a crusher?

Kang Seo-jun’s body twisted and contorted viciously, occasionally bursting.

Seo Eun-ha’s pupils shook with fear.

“S-Seo, Seo-jun! A, are you okay!”

“Don’t worry, p-p-please.”

But Kang Seo-jun’s voice remained remarkably calm.

Raising his hand as if to say it was nothing, he signaled to Seo Eun-ha that he was okay.

– Thunk! Thud! Thump! Thump! –

Even amid all that, his entire body continued to twist and burst with eerie sounds.

“I-I’m okay. This-this-this is norm-m-mal! N-normal!”

While the action Kang Seo-jun just took was simply tearing the scroll, its essence was igniting the fuse of the war between the Taesan Group and the Red Cross Society.

Naturally, those flames could only blaze wildly.